Brisbane: Comprehensive preview of every race at Sunshine Coast

A COMPREHENSIVE preview of every race for Saturday’s meet at Sunshine Coast with Greg Spletter

Stratum Star. Pcture: Hamish Blair

RACE 1

ESPIRITU ran a shocker first-up in the Lightning three weeks ago but she is a noted duffer in the wet and will improve sharply back onto to a good track tomorrow. Showed what she can do on top of the ground at her last run before the break, running Whiskey Allround to a length in Listed grade in town. Drawn out wide but will drift back in the run and should have plenty in hand at the top of the long straight. You would normally be hoping for better than $6.00 but there are very few chances in this event and she looks about right. THE MONSTAR is the testing material here despite the big weight and will go close. He has a good fresh record and is rarely far from the money, and down south he ran some crackers in very strong company. He will also get back and all the action at the top of the straight will likely be happening back in the pack, and wide. JUST A BULLET is also resuming and should be getting a nice start from that pair on straightening. Hasn’t won for a while but does go okay fresh and gets a good weight pull off the favourite.

RACE 2

BANDA SPICE scored a tidy win here two runs ago in easier grade before making ground without threatening in a strong 3yo race at Eagle Farm last weekend. They didn’t make any ground that day and she will not only go better at this circuit, but will appreciate a return to firm footing. Drawn the paint and although not missed at $3.10 she will prove very hard to hold out. GOLDEN MINESHAFT weakened a little at the end of 1350m at Ipswich last time round but will find this much easier. All four of her victories have been notched up here at her home track and from the good barrier should be included in all of your business on the event. STAR DROP can be hard to catch, but on her day she has a tremendous finish Chalked up a hat-trick at the end of last campaign and scored a nice win here two runs back. Take on trust but a strong hope on her best day.

RACE 3

OUTRAGED flew home in a much stronger class six at Ipswich second-up and looks the bet of the day against a pretty lacklustre field. Out of luck when resuming in town in May when held up for a run only to flash home and fall a lip short of Beckham over 1350m. Proved it was no fluke with another big run over the mile last time and should reel these in comfortably in the straight. Well over the mark at $3.50. MY QUILTER is nothing if not gutsy and comes in with a hope after the claim for Sarah Eilbeck. Led all the way to beat a similar field over this course and distance two starts back then battled on over the longer trip behind Feltre at Listed level. He’s has won seven races here and at $13 is worth a small saver against the possibility that the frontrunners are being favoured. HI SON doesn’t win many but has had four runs back now and wasn’t beaten all that far in the AM Giles last time. Not the worst.

RACE 4

This isn’t an overly strong juvenile contest and NUNCIUS will give a big sight at around the $16 mark. Nice even run behind Hostwin Legend when resuming at Doomben two runs back, then covered plenty of extra ground in the run and was held up at the top of the straight. Motored late and up to the 1200m from the ace draw he could bowl them over at big odds. HAPPY EVENT is the one to beat after a narrow defeat at Ipswich first run back from a short spell. She has rarely been far from the action and although having to give some weight to the boys here it is a weak field and she will go close. RARE OCCURRENCE hit the line strongly on the soft-5 at Eagle Farm last start only to be pipped by roughie Miss Kindilan. Drawn a shocker but is one of the better credentialed runners in the race.

Sold for Song. Picture: Jono Searle.

RACE 5

SOLD FOR SONG finally repaid the faith last start running on soundly from the tail of the field in the Daybreak Lover to beat Salmanazar and hotpot Tsaritsa. Despite how it looks on paper I think she is better suited on top of the ground where she can reel off some incredible sectionals. It doesn’t really matter where she draws as she is out the back in any case and will be running into view over the top of them in the shadows of the post. Looks about right at the $3.20, maybe just a touch of value. TIVACI has hit the line strongly at both starts this time in and will be running into the money again tomorrow. Created an impression over the spring with consecutive victories including a win in the CS Hayes, and with two hitouts under his belt is due to produce his best form. HIGH SPIRIT also has form through the Queensland Guineas where he raced up on the speed and battled on. Drawn a much better gate here and the Snowden team have been on fire.

RACE 6

STRATUM STAR is several classes better than these and although he’s being anchored with 61kg I don’t think it will be enough to stop him. Shocking run in the BTC Cup coming off a six week break, but improved sharply last time to finish close-up behind Spill The Beans in the QTC Cup at Group Two level. Runner-up in the G1 Futurity over this trip in the spring and at $4.20 looks reasonable value to boot. STEEL ZIP is an honest veteran and showed he still has more racing in him with a strong first-up run in the Eye Liner. Loves this trip (or thereabouts) these days, goes well off a run and thanks to a couple of classy types at the top of the weights has been pushed down to 56kg. Not in the same class as Stratum Star but the 5kg weight pull levels the playing field somewhat. SALUTER will be running on fumes at the end of 1400m at this circuit but has put in two solid runs this time in. Latest went down in a photo in the Healy Stakes at Group Three level and has drawn well here.

RACE 7

Each to their own, but at $1.75 I’m looking for something to beat the favourite and HOLY COW could be the one down in the weights. She has often shown glimpses of her potential and has been racing very consistently down south. Hit the line strongly in the Listed Centaurea Stakes in Adelaide two runs ago before producing a similar run at Flemington last time over 1800m. She’s never been tried beyond 2015m but shapes as though she will run this trip right out and at $11 looks a nice each way alternative to the hotpot. MAURUS was expected to spank them on the soft track in the Ipswich Cup and never looked like getting beaten, running away for a three and a half lengths win. Strong effort in the Doomben Cup before that but has to give my girl 5kg tomorrow and back on top of the ground I think he’s a risk at the $1.75. INDEX LINKED finished his race off very impressively in the Tatt’s Cup last weekend to score a good win but there are two of him and you will be very disappointed if the wrong one turns up.

RACE 8

With no hint of bias I am jumping onto GREGORY here following his good run behind Bidii Babe at Eagle Farm last weekend. Bolted in here to pick up his maiden the run prior and this is a pretty weak 3yo event. Drawn perfectly and at the $7.00 he looks as good as any. CASHING UP was outclassed in the Queensland Guineas three weeks ago but wasn’t beaten all that far and will find this many lengths easier. Won a similar race three starts ago at Doomben and is likely to improve here. MY FIRECRACKER has won both his runs on a soft track so a firm surface here is a bit of a query but it’s hard to knock winning form in race as weak as this. Drawn okay and is one for the multiples.